[QUOTE=Pat T;17564]Walley, thanks for the info. We had electric winches on rentals in BVI. Especially nice, even necessary. to have on big boats. Sounds like you have a job ahead of you with the installation.
Just wondered if you considered the WinchRite? Did a search and came up with the following:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLy54flif0U[/url]
Didn't know that it was invented due to an injury.[/QUOTE]

Hi Pat,
As a matter of fact, I bought one at the Newport show last fall. I was told that it is not intended to haul in a genoa. I'm going to use it for the main halyard. The Lewmar 30 that is in place is not convertible to electric, so I'd have to buy a whole new winch, (ouch, this is getting expensive enough). Also, I think the install of the motor might cause headroom issues in the aft cabin; it'd be right overhead just inside the door.
My big worry is that $&@& compressor unit!
Wally

[QUOTE=drdanj;17572]What if you moved the winch instead of the fridge? Bring it farther back, it will be closer to the wheel anyway.[/QUOTE]

I looked it over this weekend and moving it back won't work:

Unfortunately, that would make access to the seat locker very difficult. In order for the lid to open, I would have to place the winch further outboard and that would not allow enough swing-room for a winch handle when used in manual mode. Also, I'd have to move the turning block and there isn't a good lead.

Thanks for the suggestion, looks like the frige is gonna have to move if I want electrics!

Here's an update on what has turned out to be quite a project.

I emptied the cockpit locker and assessed the moving of the frige compressor. My wife, (engineer), came up with an idea that just might work. I'm going to use 1/2" stainless threaded rods to support the shelf that the compressor lives on. These rods will be mounted on a board that will serve as an anchor for the unit once its lowered. There will be nuts and large fender washers under the shelf to keep it place while I cut the shelf loose, (gasp,). Then the theory is that we can lower the compressor in a controlled manner, gaining access for the winch motor above. Fingers crossed on this one folks!!!

I removed the port side winch, (struggle), and looked over the situation. The good news is that the holes on the new deck plate/motor adapter line up with the original mounting holes.

Of course there has to be some bad news! I assembled the whole winch unit to get some measurements for the needed belowdeck clearance. When I went to drop the winch handle drive shaft, (from the original winch), it wouldn't go! It fits in the other conversion kit, not this one. Yes, I tried the shaft from my other winch, no soap. Looks like Lewmar didn't machine enough clearance on this particular winch. Negotiations are on-going with Lewmar. They have indicated they will make it good.

I have some other ideas to rectify the situation so I don't have to wait for a part to arrive from the UK. That's where my kits came from, as they were not in stock in the US. It seems this part I need is also not in stock.

Updated to follow.

Well, 4 days and lots of cuts, but they are finally mounted.

Frige compressor was dropped down to make clearance for the port winch. This took a complete day.

It was a tad daunting boring the 2.5" hole for the motor shaft, but I pressed on. To my surprise, there's no stinkin' plate in the deck where the winches are mounted! Not even plywood! It's a sandwich of glass/balsa core/glass. The only backing are the washers for the 5/32" mounting bolts. I think Catalina could do better....c'mon guys!

Next up is electrical. It's going to be 2/0; 50' each of black and red. I'm probably going to have to close out my 401k for the wire.

This is some project!!:eek:

BTW, I decided to have the errant winch innards machined rather than waiting on Lewmar. Turned out it was .004 out of round at the top. Works swell now.

Finished! Not for the feint of heart:eek:!

~ 16 hours for the wiring, which was the last part. Here's how we ran the cables:

Port winch - down and under the salon floor, aft of the batteries, and up into the space under the settee. Across this space and up into the cabinet just forward of the galley,(following the pump out hose). Aft through holes drilled into the bulkhead and under the cabinets over the stove. Through the aft galley bulkhead and into the cockpit lockerup to the winch motor. This route, (after exploring going through the aft cabin and around the engine and up through the fuel tank compartment), allowed me to just make the run short enough to allow for 2/0 cable instead of 3/0. This is a big deal!

Starboard winch - aft from the batteries, through the area under the breaker panel, (behind the " wall" under the nav desk), into the hanging locker in the aft cabin. Then up, inside the hanging locker, out through the top, across the cabin side, just under the window in the aft cabin and across to the winch motor.

The exposed cables under the galley cabinets and across the cabin side in the aft cabin are hidden in 2" wide, white, plastic cable raceways. They are self adhesive and work really well.

I bought a BIG crimper, designed for large lugs to make up all the connections for the 2/0 cable.

Looks like total cost is ~$4,000.

We have not yet sailed with the power winches, waiting for decent weather.

I think this will be a nice upgrade, but it was a LOT of work, much of it in very confined spaces. I would not have done it if I had to pay a yard to do the install....costs probably would have been out-of-sight.

Wally

[QUOTE=dpower;18067]Did you take pictures along the way? Souns like it would be a good one to post or for the Mainsheet.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, I was so wrapped up in the project, I didn't take the time to photo the progress. I'll try to get some of the finished job.
W